STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1838

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 908

H.D. 2

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 908, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE LAND CONSERVATION FUND,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to strengthen the buying power of the Legacy Land Conservation Program.

Specifically, this measure increases the maximum amount of conveyance tax revenues allocated to the Land Conservation Fund from $5,100,000 to $9,800,000 per fiscal year.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources; Coastal Planners, LLC; Hawaii Land Trust; Hawaii Life; Hawaii Reef and Ocean Coalition; Hiipaka, LLC; Kua‘aina Ulu ‘Auamo; Livable Hawaii Kai Hui; Maunalua Fishpond Heritage Center; The Nature Conservancy, Hawaii and Palmyra; and four individuals.

Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Hawaii Association of REALTORS and Tax Foundation of Hawaii.

Your Committee finds that this measure is intended to ensure adequate funding for land conservation.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 908, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

________________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair